Albert Ramos-Vinolas steps up for Spain after Rafael Nadal's injury

Rafael Nadal made an emotional departure from the tournament on Friday, forced out by a wrist injury, but Albert Ramos-Vinolas continues to fly the flag.

Like Shelby Rogers in the women's tournament, it is hard to think of a more surprising grand slam quarter-finalist in recent years.

Ramos-Vinolas had won just four matches in 18 previous appearances in grand slams. He has doubled that tally in a week.

He had also lost in the first round at Roland Garros the last four years but he added eighth seed Milos Raonic to his list of scalps, winning impressively in straight sets 6-2 6-4 6-4.

The 28-year-old said: "It's difficult to explain how I feel. It's a lot of emotions. I'm very, very happy.

"I lost I think four times in a row first round, and this year, quarter-finals for the moment. I think I played a very good match, a very smart match."

Ramos-Vinolas will have his work cut to go any further given he next faces defending champion Stan Wawrinka, who has played himself into very good form and defeated Viktor Troicki 7-6 (7/5) 6-7 (7/9) 6-3 6-2.

The pair met in Geneva last week, when Ramos-Vinolas won only two games.

"He's the title holder, he's hugely powerful," the Spaniard said of Wawrinka.

"Last week I played him, and he won very easily. I think it's a match where he played really well. He didn't leave any opportunity for me to play my tennis.

"But this is another tournament. It's another opportunity for me to fight."

It was a disappointing result for Raonic and not the most auspicious start to his coaching partnership with John McEnroe.

The three-time Wimbledon champion announced on Friday he would be helping out Raonic during the grass-court season but was also in his box in Paris.

Raonic already has two coaches in Carlos Moya and Riccardo Piatti but insisted it will not be a case of too many cooks.

The Canadian said: "It's a great honour and there's a lot I want to achieve.

"Every coach I have is to some extent an advisor, and it is my job personally, out of everything I hear, to weigh what it's worth and weigh what is best for me. I'm the CEO of the Milos Raonic Tennis.

"I take everybody's consultations very personally. I know everybody I have around me wants to help me to the fullest."

It was nip and tuck in the first two sets between Wawrinka and Troicki but the Serbian struggled with a hip problem in the latter stages and faded.

He took a lengthy medical time-out for treatment, at which point Wawrinka occupied himself by rallying with a ball boy.

"I was a little bit bored," said the Swiss, who is the only former winner left in the draw.

"I was waiting for him, was talking to the ball kid. I asked him if he played tennis. I said, 'Okay, let's play'."